Log bundling method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for sorting and bundling logs that have been cut in the woods and when they are first placed in water to be towed to their destinations. The logs are placed in a receiving station or pontoon and then each log is lifted out and deposited in a selected one of a plurality of expansible cradles in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the logs. The logs are tied into bundles in the cradles, and after the cradles have been expanded, the logs are towed out of them.

-. States set [1 1 liemmingsen et a1.

[451 Sept. 11, 1973 1 LOG BUNDLING METHOD AND APPARATUS [75] lnventors: John 0. Hemmingsen, Vancouver, British Columbia; Glyn 1). Rogers, North Vancouver, British Columbia; Albert C. Mullen, West Vancouver, British Columbia, all of Canada [73] Assignee: MacMillan Bloedel Limited,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 22 Filed: Apr. 19,1972

21 Appl.No.:245,497

[52] U.S. C1 100/2, 100/7, 214/12 [51] Int. Cl 1365b 13/02 [58] Field of Search 100/2, 7, 8', 214/12,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,556,319 l/1971 Holden 214/12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 33,211 7/1963 Finland 100/7 98,668 4/1940 Sweden 100/7 114,448 7/1945 Sweden 100/7 252,915 7/1970 U.S.S.R 100/2 239,112 2/1970 U.S.S.R l0O/7 Primary ExaminerBil1y J. Wilhite Attorney--Kellard A. Carter et al.

57 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for sorting and bundling logs that have been cut in the woods and when they are first placed in water to be towed to their destinations. The logs are placed in a receiving station or pontoon and then each log is lifted out and deposited in a selected one of a plurality of expansible cradles in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the logs. The logs are tied into bundles in the cradles, and after the cradies have been expanded, the logs are towed out of them.

38 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 11, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LOG BUNDLING METHOD AND APPARATUS This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for sorting and bundling logs in accordance with the grade, species and/or size thereof, at the booming ground or area where the logs are deposited in water to be towed to mills, or the like.

The standard way of handling logs that have been cut in the woods, is to dump them into a body of water, such as the sea, a lake or a river, and there they are graded by men walking on the logs. Boom boats than collect the graded logs and pull them individually to sorting positions where they are formed into rafts or bundles. A large number of logs are lost during this operation because they sink, one of the main offenders being hemlock logs.

The present method and apparatus represents a great improvement in the sorting of logs. The logs are prevented at all times from sinking; they are sorted by crane means in accordance with grade species and/or size. The operation is such that a greater degree of sorting can be accomplished than by the existing methods, and the sorted logs can be easily and quickly tied into bundles so that they can be towed without danger of loosing sinkers, and as a result they can be moved in rougher weather than is possible with ordinary rafts.

The method according to this invention comprises depositing logs in a receiver or pontoon equipped with slings in water, said receiver or pontoon confining the logs and preventing loss of log sinkers, lifting each log out of the receiver and placing said log into one of a plurality of adjacent expansible and retractable cradles in the water and selected in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the log, tying the logs in the cradles into bundles, expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs, and towing the log bundles out of the era dles.

This method is very simple, allows for quick and easy sorting of the logs, prevents the loss of logs that tend to sink in the water, and makes it very easy to bind the logs into bundles so that they can be towed in rougher weather without loss then is possible with ordinary rafts.

According to the present method, the cut logs are dumped or deposited in a receiver or pontoon in the water and which is open to the water and has means therein for preventing any of the logs from sinking. The pontoon has a receiving space, and flexible members, such as chains or cables, extend across the space below the surface of the water. The logs float in the receiving space, while the flexible retaining members hold up any logs that tend to sink. These logs are picked up one by one, or as a bundle of two to four logs if the same grade are adjacent to one another, usually by a crane, and selectively deposited into selected ones of a plurality of expansible and retractable cradles that are arranged in the water around the crane. The logs are placed in the cradles according to grade, species and/or size. Each cradle has means for preventing logs from sinking in the water. When there are sufficient logs in each cradle, these logs are tied into a bundle, and then the era'- dle is expanded to release the bundled logs so that they can be towed away therefrom. Thus the logs are sorted as desired and at the same time are retained in cradles where they can easily be tied into bundles, and yet there is no necessity of attempting to lift the bundled logs to get them out of the cradle.

Apparatus according to this invention comprises a receiving pontoon or receiver in a body of water and having a receiving space therein open to the water, retaining means in the receiving space on which logs can be placed, said retaining means preventing loss of log sinkers, a plurality of expansible and retractable cradles in the water near the receiving pontoon or station, each cradle being open to the water, means for lifting logs out of the receiving space and depositing said logs in selected cradles in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the logs, said logs being tied into bundles in the cradles, and means for expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs therein so the logs can be towed away.

The invention also contemplates a cradle for this apparatus. This apparatus comprises a pair of supports to be placed in water and spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, cradle means carried by the support and spanning said space, said cradle means being expansible and retractable and confining logs placed in the cradle space, and means for expanding the cradle means to release the logs therein.

Examples of apparatus for carrying out this method in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of overall apparatus for carrying out this method,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section through a preferred cradle in accordance with this invention and taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cradle apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative form of cradle, and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, 10 is sorting and bundling apparatus for carrying out the method included in this invention. Although apparatus 10 is shown and described herein as floating apparatus that can be moved from place to place and anchored where desired, it can be a permanent installation supported from the bottom of the body of water in which it is located, or it can be made up of floating and permanently fixed elements.

Apparatus l0 includesone or more receiving pontoons 14, there being two of these pontoons shown in FIG. 1. The receiving pontoons 14 are arranged on opposite sides of a central base or float l6, and arranged around this base or float are a plurality of cradles 20, said cradles being connected to each other and to receiving pontoons 14 and are accessible to each other by walkways 22.

Each receiver or receiving pontoon 14 includes side supports or pontoons 28 and 29 which are separated by a receiving space 30 therebetween. Pontoon 14 is open to the water in which apparatus 10 is located, and a plurality of slings 32 extend across space 30 below the surface of the water and connected at opposite ends to side supports 28 and 29. Each sling 32 is a flexible member in the form of a chain, cable or the like. Slings 32 are spaced from each other longitudinally of receiving space 30, as shown in FIG. 1.

The logs are brought by truck or the like to apparatus and are deposited in the receiving space of one of the receivers 14. If the logs had been bundled, the bundles are broken open within the receiver. Slings 32 retain and support the logs floating in the receiving space and prevent the loss of any logs by sinking. Sliding 32 can be extended or shortened to accommodate the logs in space 30. In the latter case, either or both ends of the slings are adjustably connected to pontoon 14.

One or more log-handling cranes 38 is or are mounted on float 16 so as to be able to reach one or both of the receiving pontoons 14 and to reach some or all of the cradles arranged around the central float. Logs are picked out of each receiving pontoon one by one and are deposited in selected cradles 20. The cradles are selected in accordance with the species, grade and/or size of the logs so that they are sorted as they are taken out of the receiving pontoons.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a preferred form of cradle 20. This cradle is made up of a pair of spaced-apart supports 42 and 43, usually in the form of floats. When the cradles 20 are arranged around a central point, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the supports or floats 42 and 43 are substantially pie-shaped. With this arrangement, the space 46 between these supports is substantially rectangular in plan. Expansible and retractable cradle means span space 46 between supports 42 and 43, and in this example, said cradle means being made up of a plurality of flexible members 48 each in the form of a chain, although this may be a cable or other flexible device. Each member or chain 48 is anchored at one end at to side member 42. The chain hangs down in the water in space 46, and has substantially vertical side sections 51 and 52 interconnected by a substantially horizontal mid section 53. Supports 42 and 43 are preferably formed in their inner vertical surfaces with opposed slots 54 and 55 for each chain 48 and through which the side sections 51 and 52 of said chain extend, having the space between the upper portions of said supports clear. The opposite end of member or chain 48 is connected to side member 43, and is preferably resiliently connected thereto. in this example, each chain 48 extends up and over a bearing 56 on support 43 and then over a suitable pulley 57 fixedly mounted on a common shaft 58 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 59 mounted on support 43. The end 61 of member or chain 48 is connected to counterbalancing means which, in this example, is a weight 62.

Bearing 56 is in the form of a wheel over which chain 48 travels and rotatably mounted on the lower end of an arm 65 which normally hangs downwardly from a shaft 66 mounted on a base 67 carried by support 43. A fluid cylinder 70 is swingably mounted at 71 on a portion of support 43, and has a piston rod 72 projecting from its opposite end, the outer end of said rod being connected at 73 to the lower end of arm 65.

When piston rod 72 of cylinder 70 is retracted, the side 52 of chain or member 48 hangs down in slot 55 in the side of member 43 and beside the cradle space 46, but when said piston rod is extended, arm 65 swings inwardly towards the longitudinal centre of space 46 so that the vertical section 52 of the chain is spaced away from side support 43.

By referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that supporting members or chains 48 are spaced apart longitudinally of cradle space 46 between side supports 42 and 43. Each chain extends over a pulley 57 on shaft 58. This shaft can be rotated by a suitable source of power, such as an electric or fluid motor 78. In this example, a sprocket 79 fixedly mounted on shaft 58 is connected by chain 80 to another sprocket 81 of a speed reduction unit 82. This unit is operatively connected to motor 78 by a shaft 83, the rotation of which can be stopped by a brake 84.

It is preferable to connect side supports 42 to supports 43 and to pontoons 14 by a connecting band 85 which is spaced below the surface of the water, each of said side supports being connected to this band by a vertical web 86.

The operation of apparatus 10 is quite simple. Crane 38 picks logs out of the receiving space of receiving pontoon 14 and deposits the logs in selected ones of the cradles 20. As each cradle operates in the same man ner, one only will now be described. To start out, the supporting members or chains 48 of the cradle are positioned just a little below the surface of the body of water in which the apparatus is located, and the piston rods 72 are extended so that chains 48 are spaced away from support 43. When logs are dropped by the crane into cradle space 46, the water breaks the fall of these logs, and as the logs pile up, they rest on chains 48. These chains prevent any of the logs from sinking. As the weight of the bundle in the cradle space increases, the cross chains move downwardly in the cradle space against the action of counterweights 62, brake 84 being relaxed at this time to permit shaft 58 to rotate.

When there are enough logs in cradle 20, they are tied into a bundle in any convenient manner. This is usually done by the regular bundling method. After the logs have been tied together, the cradles formed by chains 48 are expanded by retracting piston rods 72 to move the chains away from the sides of the bundle. At the same time, shaft 58 is rotated by motor 78 to lower the chains in the cradle space so that they move away from the bottom of the log bundle. The bundle is now free and floating in the cradle space, and it can be towed out of said space.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative form of cradle 20a. Cradle 20a consists ofa float having side members and 101 spaced from each other to form a cradle space 102 therebetween. A cradle or sling is formed between side members 100 and 101 by a plurality of vertical stakes 105 and 106 mounted near supports 100 and 101, respectively, and mounted for movement towards and away from their respective supports. in this example, stakes 105 are mounted on piston rods 109 of fluid cylinders 110 carried by support 100, while stakes 106 are mounted on piston rods 112 of cylinders 113 carried by support 101. These stakes form the sides of the sling or cradle. The bottom of the cradle is formed by a plurality of transverse floats 118 positioned between stakes 105 and 106. Suitable means is provided for selectively reducing and restoring the floatability of floats 118. For example, a hose 122 may be connected to each float, said hose extending to a water pump, not shown, mounted in side support 100. Another hose 124 extends from each float to an air pump, not shown, mounted in side support 101. In place of this buoyancy control idea, the transverse floats can be drawn downwardly by means of suitably guided cables.

When it is desired to place logs in cradle 20a stakes 105 and 106 are moved into their inner positions, shown in broken lines in FIG. 6, and floats 18 are allowed to rise to near the top of the water in which the apparatus is located. As the logs are placed in cradle space 102, floats 118 prevent any of them from sinking in the water, and these floats gradually move downwardly under the weight of the logs. After the desired number are inserted into the cradle, the logs are tied into a bundle, and then stakes 105 and 1106 are retracted, and water is pumped through hoses 122 into floats 118 to cause the latter to move downwardly away from the logs. The bundle now is free to float out of the cradle.

To set cradle a up for the next operation, air is pumped through hoses 124 into floats llllfi to expel water therefrom so that the floats rise to near the top of the water. At the same time, stakes 105 and 106 are moved into their inner positions.

We claim:

1. The method of bundling logs which comprises depositing logs in a receiver equipped with slings in water, said receiver confining the logs and preventing loss of log sinkers, lifting each log out of the receiver and placing said log into one of a plurality of adjacent expansible and retractable cradles in the water selected in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the log, tying the logs in the cradles into bundles, expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs, and towing the log bundles out of the cradles.

2. The method of bundling logs which comprises depositing logs in a receiver equipped with slings in water, said receiver confining the logs and preventing loss of log sinkers, lifting each log out of the receiver by a crane and placing said log into one of a plurality of adjacent expansible and retractable cradles in the water selected in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the log, said receiver and said cradles being arranged around the crane, tying the logs in the cradles into bundles, expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs, and towing the log bundles out of the cradles.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said cradles comprises a pair of floating supports spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, flexible retaining members extending from one of the supports to the other of said supports and hanging down in the cradle space, one end of each retaining member being resiliently connected to one of the supports, said members being spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, and means for raising and lowering the retaining members in the cradle space, said logs being placed on the retaining members between the supports.

4. The method according to claim l in which each of said cradles comprises a pair of spaced-apart floating supports, spaced-apart and opposed vertical stakes between the supports and movable towards and away from each other, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the space between opposed stakes, said logs being placed on the bunks between said stakes.

5. Apparatus for bundling logs comprising a receiving pontoon in a body of water and having a receiving space therein open to the water, retaining means in the receiving space upon which logs can be placed, said retaining means preventing loss of log sinkers, a plurality of expansible and retractable cradles in the water near the receiving pontoon, each cradle being open to the water, means for lifting logs out of the receiving space and depositing said logs in selected cradles in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the logs, said logs being tied into bundles in the cradles, and

means for expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs therein so the log bundles can be towed away.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said lifting means comprises a crane, and said cradles are arranged around the crane.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which each cra' dle comprises a pair of pontoon supports spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, cradle means carried by the supports and spanning said space, said cradle means being expansible and retractable and confining logs placed in the cradle space, and means for expanding the cradle means to release the logs therein.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical retaining members spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and located near one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced retaining members near the other of said supports, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially horizontal supporting members extending across the cradle space between the retaining members at opposite sides of said space.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means engaging the vertical retaining members adjacent one of said supports for moving said retaining members towards and away from said one support.

NLApparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means for moving the movable ends of the flexible elements to extend the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each pair of pontoons have opposed slots in opposite surfaces thereof for each flexible element and through which the vertical retaining members of said each flexible element extend.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the movable end of each of said flexible elements is resiliently connected to said other support.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible eiement for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports, means connected to the opposite end of each flexible element at the other of said supports applying a load of said each flexible element, and said expanding means comprises means connected to the movable ends of the flexible elements for adjusting the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said load applying means for'each flexible element comprises a weight connected to the movable end of said each element.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the moving end of each of said flexible elements is trained over a rotatable member, and said means for adjusting said each flexible element comprises power means connected to the rotatable member and operable selectively to rotate said member in opposite directions.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining member of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and near and supported by one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical stakes near and supported by the other of said supports, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the cradle space between said stakes, and said expanding means comprises means connected to said stakes for moving the stakes towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including means connected to the floating bunks for drawing said bunks downwardly in the cradle space.

20. Apparatus for use in sorting and bundling logs, comprising a receiver in the form of laterally spaced supporting means and a plurality of longitudinally spaced lines connected at opposite ends thereof to said supporting means and hanging down between the latter in a body of water, and a plurality of cradles in the water adjacent the receiver, each cradle comprising laterally spaced supports, vertical confining means movably connected to each support, the confining means of one of said supports being opposed to and spaced from the confining means of the other of said supports, means for shifting said confining means towards and away from each other to vary the size of the space therebetween, and floating horizontal base means extending across said space between the confining means, whereby said base means is sunk in the water as logs are placed thereon between the confining means.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which each support comprises a pontoon floating in the water.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which the confining means of each support comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of said confining means.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which said 25. Apparatus for bundling logs comprising a pair of supports to be placed in water and spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, cradle means carried by the supports and spanning said space, said cradle means being expansible and retractable and confining logs placed in the cradle space, and means for expanding the cradle means to release the logs therein.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical retaining members spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and located near one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rctaining members near the other of said supports, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially horizontal supporting members extending across the cradle space between the retaining members at opposite sides of said space.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 including means engaging the vertical retaining members adjacent one of said supports for moving said retaining members towards and away from said one support.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means for moving the movable ends of the flexible elements to adjust the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which each pair of supports have opposed slots in opposite surfaces thereof for each flexible element and through which the vertical retaining members of said each flexible element extend.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 in which the movable end of each of said flexible elements is resiliently connected to said other support.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which said load applying means for each flexible element comprises a weight connected to the movable end of said each element.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the moving end of each of said flexible elements is trained over a rotatable member, and said means for adjusting said each flexible element comprises power means connected to the rotatable member and operable selectively to rotate said member in opposite directions.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 including means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports, means connected to the opposite end of each flexible element at the other of said supports applying a load to said each flexible element, and said expanding means comprises means connected to the movable ends of the flexible elements for adjusting the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

36. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which each of said supports is a floating pontoon.

37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and near and supported by one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical stakes near and supported by the other of said supports, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the cradle space between said stakes, and said expanding means comprises means connected to said stakes for moving the stakes towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.

' 38. Apparatus as claimed in claim 37 including means connected to the floating bunks for drawing said bunks downwardly in the cradle spacer Patent No. 3,757,678 Dated September v11, 1973 lnventorts) John O. Hcmmingsen, et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 5', lines 1, 2 and 7 change "receiving pontoon" to receiver Claim 30, line 1, change "27" to read 28 Claim 31, line 1, change "29" to read 30 Claim 32, line change "29" to .read 30 Claim 33, line 1, change "27" to read 28 Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April 19m (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents FORM P 0 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING QFFICE: I969 0-366-334. 

1. The method of bundling logs which comprises depositing logs in a receiver equipped with slings in water, said receiver confining the logs and preventing loss of log sinkers, lifting each log out of the receiver and placing said log into one of a plurality of adjacent expansIble and retractable cradles in the water selected in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the log, tying the logs in the cradles into bundles, expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs, and towing the log bundles out of the cradles.
 2. The method of bundling logs which comprises depositing logs in a receiver equipped with slings in water, said receiver confining the logs and preventing loss of log sinkers, lifting each log out of the receiver by a crane and placing said log into one of a plurality of adjacent expansible and retractable cradles in the water selected in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the log, said receiver and said cradles being arranged around the crane, tying the logs in the cradles into bundles, expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs, and towing the log bundles out of the cradles.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said cradles comprises a pair of floating supports spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, flexible retaining members extending from one of the supports to the other of said supports and hanging down in the cradle space, one end of each retaining member being resiliently connected to one of the supports, said members being spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, and means for raising and lowering the retaining members in the cradle space, said logs being placed on the retaining members between the supports.
 4. The method according to claim 1 in which each of said cradles comprises a pair of spaced-apart floating supports, spaced-apart and opposed vertical stakes between the supports and movable towards and away from each other, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the space between opposed stakes, said logs being placed on the bunks between said stakes.
 5. Apparatus for bundling logs comprising a receiving pontoon in a body of water and having a receiving space therein open to the water, retaining means in the receiving space upon which logs can be placed, said retaining means preventing loss of log sinkers, a plurality of expansible and retractable cradles in the water near the receiving pontoon, each cradle being open to the water, means for lifting logs out of the receiving space and depositing said logs in selected cradles in accordance with the grade, species and/or size of the logs, said logs being tied into bundles in the cradles, and means for expanding the cradles to release the bundled logs therein so the log bundles can be towed away.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said lifting means comprises a crane, and said cradles are arranged around the crane.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which each cradle comprises a pair of pontoon supports spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, cradle means carried by the supports and spanning said space, said cradle means being expansible and retractable and confining logs placed in the cradle space, and means for expanding the cradle means to release the logs therein.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical retaining members spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and located near one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced retaining members near the other of said supports, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially horizontal supporting members extending across the cradle space between the retaining members at opposite sides of said space.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means engaging the vertical retaining members adjacent one of said supports for moving said retaining members towards and away from said one support.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connecTed at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means for moving the movable ends of the flexible elements to extend the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each pair of pontoons have opposed slots in opposite surfaces thereof for each flexible element and through which the vertical retaining members of said each flexible element extend.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the movable end of each of said flexible elements is resiliently connected to said other support.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports, means connected to the opposite end of each flexible element at the other of said supports applying a load of said each flexible element, and said expanding means comprises means connected to the movable ends of the flexible elements for adjusting the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said load applying means for each flexible element comprises a weight connected to the movable end of said each element.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the moving end of each of said flexible elements is trained over a rotatable member, and said means for adjusting said each flexible element comprises power means connected to the rotatable member and operable selectively to rotate said member in opposite directions.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining member of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and near and supported by one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical stakes near and supported by the other of said supports, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the cradle space between said stakes, and said expanding means comprises means connected to said stakes for moving the stakes towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including means connected to the floating bunks for drawing said bunks downwardly in the cradle space.
 20. Apparatus for use in sorting and bundling logs, comprising a receiver in the form of laterally spaced supporting means and a plurality of longitudinally spaced lines connected at opposite ends thereof to said supporting means and hanging down between the latter in a body of water, and a plurality of cradles in the water adjacent the receiver, each cradle comprising laterally spaced supports, vertical confining means movably connected tO each support, the confining means of one of said supports being opposed to and spaced from the confining means of the other of said supports, means for shifting said confining means towards and away from each other to vary the size of the space therebetween, and floating horizontal base means extending across said space between the confining means, whereby said base means is sunk in the water as logs are placed thereon between the confining means.
 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which each support comprises a pontoon floating in the water.
 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which the confining means of each support comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of said confining means.
 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which said base means comprises a plurality of spaced floating bunks.
 24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which said base means comprises a plurality of spaced floating bunks, and including means for admitting water into and expelling water from each bunk.
 25. Apparatus for bundling logs comprising a pair of supports to be placed in water and spaced from each other to form a cradle space therebetween open to the water, cradle means carried by the supports and spanning said space, said cradle means being expansible and retractable and confining logs placed in the cradle space, and means for expanding the cradle means to release the logs therein.
 26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical retaining members spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and located near one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced retaining members near the other of said supports, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially horizontal supporting members extending across the cradle space between the retaining members at opposite sides of said space.
 27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 including means engaging the vertical retaining members adjacent one of said supports for moving said retaining members towards and away from said one support.
 28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means for moving the movable ends of the flexible elements to adjust the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.
 29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which each pair of supports have opposed slots in opposite surfaces thereof for each flexible element and through which the vertical retaining members of said each flexible element extend.
 30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 in which the movable end of each of said flexible elements is resiliently connected to said other support.
 31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which said load applying means for each flexible element comprises a weight connected to the movable end of said each element.
 32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the moving end of each of said flexible elements is trained over a rotatable member, and said means for adjusting said each flexible element comprises power means connected to the rotatable member and operable selectively to rotate said member in opposite directions.
 33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 including means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means cOmprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports, means connected to the opposite end of each flexible element at the other of said supports applying a load to said each flexible element, and said expanding means comprises means connected to the movable ends of the flexible elements for adjusting the effective lengths of said elements between the supports.
 35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of flexible elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space, each flexible element being secured at one end to one of said supports and movably connected at its opposite end to the other of said supports, each flexible element hanging between the supports to provide substantially vertical retaining members adjacent both supports and an interconnecting substantially horizontal supporting member extending across the cradle space between said retaining members of said each element, and said expanding means comprises means engaging the vertical retaining member of each flexible element for moving said element towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 36. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which each of said supports is a floating pontoon.
 37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which said cradle means comprises a plurality of vertical stakes spaced from each other longitudinally of the cradle space and near and supported by one of said supports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical stakes near and supported by the other of said supports, and horizontal floating bunks extending across the cradle space between said stakes, and said expanding means comprises means connected to said stakes for moving the stakes towards and away from the longitudinal centre of the cradle space.
 38. Apparatus as claimed in claim 37 including means connected to the floating bunks for drawing said bunks downwardly in the cradle space. 